South Carolina H 5107: Conway- Holiday Capital of South Carolina

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5107 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 11, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5107

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Recalled

March 11, 2026

H. 5107

Introduced by Reps. Schuessler, Alexander, 
Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, 
Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, 
Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, 
Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, 
Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, 
Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, 
Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, 
J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, 
Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, 
McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, 
Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, 
Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. M. 
Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, 
Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow 

S. Printed 3/11/26--S.

Read the first time February 10, 2026

________

A concurrent RESOLUTION

To dedicate the City of Conway in Horry 
County as the Holiday Capital of South Carolina.

Whereas, the 
City of Conway, located in Horry County, is one of South Carolina's oldest and most 
significant communities with a nationally recognized historic downtown that 
offers an authentic and immersive setting for public celebrations. It's 
tree-lined streets, preserved architecture, and walkable core provide an ideal 
backdrop for year round destination-quality holiday programming; and

Whereas, over 
the past several years, Conway has earned statewide recognition for its 
exceptional holiday celebrations, seasonal décor, and festive programming that 
have become central to the city's cultural and economic life. These initiatives 
include large-scale public art installations, immersive downtown environments, 
themed markets, parades, concerts, and family friendly celebrations tied to 
major holidays and seasons. While Conway's Halloween festivities have become 
its most visible and widely recognized example, it is part of a broader and 
deliberate strategy to activate the downtown year round through high-quality 
experiences; and

Whereas, 
Conway's dedication to preserving historic spaces while transforming them into 
vibrant holiday destinations creates a welcoming and memorable experience for 
all who visit generating regional and national media attention and attracting 
visitors beyond the local region. Local businesses, hospitality providers, and 
civic organizations credit these efforts with increased visitation, extended 
stays, and enhanced community pride; and

Whereas, Conway's 
holiday programming and seasonal attractions have generated significant 
economic benefits, welcoming some 2.8 million visitors in 2025. In October 
alone, more than 472,000 visitors came to experience Halloween-related events 
such as "Boo-Jangles," with another 270,000 visitors in December for its 
"Bo-Jingles" celebration. These numbers directly correlate to a citywide 
increase in hospitality fee collections and higher restaurant sales, tangible 
gains that directly support essential public services and infrastructure 
improvements that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. 
In addition, social media influencers regularly travel to Conway during each 
holiday season, using the city as a backdrop to build their platforms while 
extending Conway's reach to regional and national audiences at no cost to 
taxpayers; and

Whereas, the 
city's holiday programing has produced outcomes rarely seen in communities of 
similar sizing. Commercial vacancies have been effectively eliminated 
throughout the downtown and are now minimal across the entire city, a direct 
result of consistent foot traffic, strong branding, and private sector 
confidence. Businesses now plan annual operations and staffing around the 
city's holiday seasons rather than relying solely on the traditional summer 
peak; and 

Whereas, Conway's 
holiday programming offers experiences for all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, 
from family-oriented celebrations to immersive artistic installations. The city 
actively partners with schools, churches, civic organizations, local 
businesses, and the Latino community to ensure broad participation and shared 
ownership of events; and

Whereas, designation 
of Conway as the Holiday Capital of South Carolina would serve as a statewide 
market